Shrub rose plant named ‘AUSrelate’

ABSTRACT

Shrub rose plant substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by blooms which start as peachy-pink cupped rosettes and which become domed, creamy-white blooms; a vigorous, well balanced and rounded shrub; and a light fragrance with strong notes of clove.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘AUSrelate’.

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a shrubrose plant named ‘AUSrelate’ which was originated by me by crossing anunnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a repeat floweringhealthy variety with creamy white blooms on a vigorous shrub.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirableimprovements, as evidenced by the following unique combination ofcharacteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and thatdistinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties ofwhich I am aware:

-   -   1. Blooms which start as peachy-pink cupped rosettes and which        become domed, creamy-white blooms.    -   2. A vigorous, well balanced and rounded shrub.    -   3. A light fragrance with strong notes of clove.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atAlbrighton, England, shows that the foregoing and all othercharacteristics and distinctions come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding propagations.

Comparison with Parents

The seed parent has single blooms and grey-green foliage compared withthe double blooms and dark green foliage of ‘AUSrelate’. The pollenparent has apricot-orange blooms compared with the creamy-white bloomsof ‘AUSrelate’.

Comparison with Similar Variety

‘AUSlevel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,765) has more petals per bloom than‘AUSrelate’ and has larger, less glossy foliage. ‘AUSrelate’ has a touchof apricot in its creamy-white blooms whereas ‘AUSlevel’ does not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor descriptions using terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001), except whereordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—Unnamed Seedling (Unpatented).        -   Pollen parent.—Unnamed Seedling (Unpatented).

FLOWER

Observations made from plants commencing at one year of age grown in agarden environment at Albrighton, England.

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is pointed ovoid.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, bud color is Greyed-Yellow            Group 160C with patches of Red Group 53B. When half blown,            the upper sides of the petals are White Group 155A and the            lower sides of the petals are Yellow Group 11D.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 147C            overlaid with Greyed-Purple Group 183D toward the tip. Lower            surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Length: 2.5 cm. Width:            1.0 cm. Shape: Subulate. Surface texture: Upper surface:            Pubescent. Lower surface: Smooth. There are three lightly            appendaged sepals. There are two unappendaged sepals with            canescent edges.        -   Receptacle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Shape:            Campanulate. Size: Medium, about 1.0 cm long×1.0 cm wide.            Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, averaging about 6 cm. Surface:            Glandular. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with a touch of            Greyed-Purple Group 187A before the bud unfurls. Strength:            Weak.-   Bloom:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average open diameter is about 8.6 cm.        -   Borne.—Several together in irregular compound corymb            clusters of about four to five blooms.        -   Stems.—Strength: Strong. Average length is about 30 cm with            a diameter of about 0.6 cm.        -   Form.—When first open: Cupped. Permanence: Outer petals curl            back.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 95-100.        -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are Yellow-White Group            158B. The reverse sides of the petals are Yellow Group 8D.            The base of each petal is Yellow Group 8A. Petals are            susceptible to spotting from rain/water which shows as pink            spotting on the reverse of the outer petals.        -   Variegations.—None.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is Yellow-White Group 158B. At the end of the third day:            White Group 155A.        -   Fragrance.—Slight, fruity with occasional strong hints of            clove.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 2.7 cm. Length: 4.0 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate. Margin: Entire, some slightly notched. Apex            Shape: Obtuse, a few are cuspidate. Base Shape: Cuneate.            Form: Incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.        -   Petaloids.—Number: None.        -   Persistence.—Petals drop off cleanly before drying.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: Fair (about 4 days). As a cut            flower: Fair (about 4 days).-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 55. Length: 10 mm. Anthers: Length: 2 mm.            Color: Yellow-Orange Group 16A. Arrangement: Regular around            styles. Filaments: Color: Yellow Group 8A. Length: 8 mm.            Pollen: Color: Yellow-Orange Group 16A.        -   Pistils.—Number: 55. Length: 9 mm. Styles: Color:            Green-Yellow Group 1C. Length: 8 mm. Stigmas: Color: Yellow            Group 2C. Length: 1 mm.        -   Hips.—None observed.

PLANT

-   -   -   Form.—Shrub.        -   Growth.—Vigorous.        -   Age at maturity.—Two years.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 1.2 m. Width: 1.0 m.        -   Rootstock.—‘Dr. Huey’ in the USA. Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ for            the observed plants in the U.K.

-   Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5 or 7    (including terminal leaflet).    -   -   Size.—Medium. About 14.8 cm long×12 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Average number leaves per flowering stem:            10.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Yellow-Green Group 146A with            Greyed-Purple Group 183C concentrated around margin. Lower            side: Yellow-Green Group 146C overlaid with Greyed-Purple            Group 183C. Old foliage: Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            147A. Lower side: Green Group 137C.

-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 6.9 cm long×4.4 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Pointed oval.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Smooth, semi-glossy.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single, large.        -   Petiole.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C. Length: 3.5 cm.            Width: 2 mm. Surface texture: Smooth.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C. Underside:            With prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 2 cm; erose and glandular. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Auricle shape.—Subulate. Length: 5 mm. Width: 2 mm, tapering            to a point. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Disease resistance.—Resistant to powdery and downy mildew,            blackspot and rust in normal growing conditions.        -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.        -   Vein color.—Yellow-Green Group 145C.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.

-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Bark: Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Bark: Smooth.

-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 30 cm. Diameter: 6 mm.        -   Internode distance.—6 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Few, 5 per 10 cm stem            length. On laterals from main canes: Few, 5 per 10 cm per            stem length.        -   Form.—Concave curved inward.        -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Color when young.—Greyed-Red Group 181A.        -   Color when mature.—Greyed-Red Group 181A.

-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main stalks: None. On laterals: None.

-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.

1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant substantially asherein shown and described, characterized particularly by blooms whichstart as peachy-pink cupped rosettes and which become domed,creamy-white blooms; a vigorous, well balanced and rounded shrub; and alight fragrance with strong notes of clove.